Canadian pop artist Callie Fraser has drawn attention to Rihanna Diamonds’ Inuit-Language cover as part of her advocacy efforts for Indigenous culture. She was 26 years old.
Fraser’s friend and producer Thor Simonsen said the singer-songwriter’s family had died after Christmas.
Fraser grew up in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, Canada and lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She released her debut album, Isma, in 2014.
Her second album Sedna came out in 2017 and was nominated for the Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the Canada Juno Music Awards.
When writing or translating songs in the Inuit language of Fraser Inuktitut, a major goal is “to use pop music as a platform to strengthen its language,” says Simonsen.
He wanted the music to reach more people, so he added English and Inuit to his recordings and blended traditional Inuit sounds and themes with contemporary pop.
Fraser is “very passionate about improving conditions for Inuit people,” said Simpson, and wants to help young people understand the history of contributing.
In a 2017 announcement along with the release of Sedna, Fraser said the album’s mission is to heal those suffering from colonial consequences, including “the detrimental effects of colonization and forced rehabilitation.”
Inuit artists need to talk directly with people who have been affected in the past. Simonsen claims she was working on the third album, Decolonize at the time of her death.
In fact, he studied at Nunavut Sivanikasout in Ottawa before completing his home study program at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, British Columbia, from Sanville, Nanville, Canada.
He first gained widespread attention on 2013’s Inuit-Language Pop songs on YouTube, most notably Rihanna’s “Diamonds” series.
She released her debut album, Isma, in 2014. Sedna followed in 2017. Her songs include Inuit and English language, and music, contemporary pop with traditional Inuit sounds.
Her producer revealed that she was working on another album, Decolonize when she died.
He died on 24 Dec 2019 at his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.